» THUNDER ROLLS, LIGHTNING STRIKES: After a light rain in the opening moments of the game, the temperatures remained mild until clouds rolled in, and lightning forced a 58-minute delay in the fourth quarter.

NCAA rules mandate that teams leave the field and a 30-minute delay is taken from the time of the last lightning strike.

UNC players indicated that they used the delay like a second halftime, talking about areas that needed attention and what was working for them.

» GRABLE MOVE OVER: UNC senior wideout Jace Davis was good for nine receptions and 73 yards, giving him 2,026 receiving yards for his career. That moves him into seventh on the school’s all-time receiving yards, surpassing former UNC receiver and current wideout coach Keith Grable (1996-99, 1,965).

» RED BLINDNESS: The Bears were 0-for-2 in red-zone scoring chances, snapping a streak of 8 for 8 through the first two games.

» SPREADING IT OUT: UNC quarterbacks Seth Lobato and Tim Tancik utilized seven receivers to put up 275 passing yards. It’s the first game his season that Lobato hasn’t thrown for at least 300 yards.

» O-FOR:UNC kicker Dave Eden had a tough day, missing a 39-yard field goal attempt in the first half, then having his 47-yard attempt in the third quarter blocked.

» OUCH: The only injury of note to the Bears was a shoulder injury to starting senior quarterback Seth Lobato, who played just one series in the second half. His status for Saturday’s 1:35 p.m. home game is unknown.

Reportedly, he injured his shoulder on a 6-yard run.

Samuel G. Mustari

LARAMIE, Wyo. — The University of Northern Colorado football team had a case of the dropsies Saturday afternoon.

It also had a hiccup or two, but the Bears are confident that the elements ailing them are curable despite Saturday's 35-7 loss to the University of Wyoming at War Memorial Stadium in front of 19,091 fans, in a game that included a 58-minute lightning delay.

The loss drops UNC, which plays at the FCS level, to 1-2 while the FBS Cowboys are 2-1.

"Defensively, we did a lot but it wasn't enough," said UNC senior linebacker Clarence Bumpas. "There's definitely room for improvement."

What needs tweaked was obvious as the Cowboys shredded through UNC's defense at times with junior quarterback Brett Smith (30 for 47, 264 yards, 1 TD) directed their hurry-up offense to perfection, utilizing a cushion allowed by the Bears with enough slant-pattern completions to turn UNC sideways.

"That's what they do," UNC head coach Earnest Collins said.

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The Cowboys do it with the best of 'em in the country, and exhibited it fully in a 15-play, 95-yard drive in the second quarter that ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Dominic Rufran (9 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD).

In that possession, the Cowboys picked up six first downs and Smith was 9 for 11, hitting Rufran six times.

That took the sting out of a scoreless first quarter and put the Cowboys in the driver's seat at 21-0.

They opened the second quarter with a 76-yard drive with Shaun Wick scoring from the 1. Wyoming scored again — its second touchdown in just 1 minute, 22 seconds — when Jordan Stanton picked off UNC quarterback Seth Lobato, whose pass was tipped, and went 39 yards for a score.

The two quick scores also made a quick possession by the Bears that ended with Dave Eden missing a 39-yard field goal seem like yesterday's news. Eden's other attempt, from 47 yards in the third quarter, was blocked.

"Our kids came ready to play," Collins said. "We just have to eliminate dumb mistakes."

Collins didn't consider Lobato's pick-6 — his third in two weeks — a mistake.

He did mention dropped passes — unofficially, the Bears had at least six — as mistakes, which cost them close to 60 yards.

"Too many dropped balls," Collins continued.

Wyoming did put up another pick-6 with just 2:29 left in the game when Cortland Ford charged in front of a pass in the left flat by UNC backup quarterback Tim Tancik and raced 50 yards for the touchdown.

"I had a bad read on that one and took a gamble," Tancik offered. "

Ford's touchdown countered a fumble recovery by the Bears at the Wyoming 44 two plays previous.

"Still, too many dropped balls," Collins persisted.

Tancik did direct a nine-play, 80-yard drive early in the fourth quarter than was complemented by a 31-yard touchdown pass to UNC tight end Derek Vander Velde for the Bears' only score, making it 21-7 with 13:03 left to play.

Vander Velde explained that his route was a delayed slant, adding, "Timmy put it right on the spot."

After the catch, Vander Velde showed some fancy footwork and a spin move en route to the end zone.

"He put it right on the dot … just like drawing it up in practice," Vander Velde added. "You fight to score for this team."

Tancik added: "He was the first read on that play, it opened up like we thought it would and he made a good play for me."

Tancik was extremely effective off the bench, completing 16-of-29 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown.

"It's next man up and you prepare every week like you're the starter," Tancik said. "You (might) have to go in at the drop of a hat. When Seth went down, those are big shoes to fill. I just had to go out there and do my job and I had some guys making plays for me at the end of the day but can't be satisfied because we didn't win."

Smith stole the show most of the day, utilizing eight receivers, including freshman Tanner Gentry (five catches, 51 yards) and Robert Herron (five catches, 49 yards).

The Cowboys ran 52 plays in the first half, yet had nearly five minutes less possession time. They finished with 89 offense plays en route to 437 yards of offense.

However, the Bears weren't far behind with 340 yards of total offense, but were 0 for 2 in red-zone chances and just 5 of 18 on third-down conversions.

"We've learned some valuable lessons the last two weeks and we'll see how they come out this week in practice," Collins said.

Extra points

» THUNDER ROLLS, LIGHTNING STRIKES: After a light rain in the opening moments of the game, the temperatures remained mild until clouds rolled in, and lightning forced a 58-minute delay in the fourth quarter.

NCAA rules mandate that teams leave the field and a 30-minute delay is taken from the time of the last lightning strike.

UNC players indicated that they used the delay like a second halftime, talking about areas that needed attention and what was working for them.

» GRABLE MOVE OVER: UNC senior wideout Jace Davis was good for nine receptions and 73 yards, giving him 2,026 receiving yards for his career. That moves him into seventh on the school’s all-time receiving yards, surpassing former UNC receiver and current wideout coach Keith Grable (1996-99, 1,965).

» RED BLINDNESS: The Bears were 0-for-2 in red-zone scoring chances, snapping a streak of 8 for 8 through the first two games.

» SPREADING IT OUT: UNC quarterbacks Seth Lobato and Tim Tancik utilized seven receivers to put up 275 passing yards. It’s the first game his season that Lobato hasn’t thrown for at least 300 yards.

» O-FOR:UNC kicker Dave Eden had a tough day, missing a 39-yard field goal attempt in the first half, then having his 47-yard attempt in the third quarter blocked.

» OUCH: The only injury of note to the Bears was a shoulder injury to starting senior quarterback Seth Lobato, who played just one series in the second half. His status for Saturday’s 1:35 p.m. home game is unknown.